ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — With the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Championships looming, the College of Saint Benedict swim and dive team will close the regular season at the Minnesota First Chance Meet on Feb. 6–7 at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis, Minn.
Competition begins on Friday at 5 p.m. and resumes Saturday at 11 a.m. The meet serves as a final tune-up before the MIAC Championships, scheduled for Feb. 11–14, also in Minneapolis.
Under the direction of head coach Mandy Wolvert, the Bennies have shown steady growth throughout the season. What opened with a runner-up finish at the St. Catherine Pentathlon on Oct. 11 has developed into a four-month stretch marked by breakthrough swims, dominant relay efforts, and consistent improvement across the lineup. Following a midseason training trip to Puerto Rico, CSB returned to action against Gustavus and Carleton and continued to build momentum with several standout performances.
Zelen earns 6th MIAC weekly honor — best in school history
Junior Haley Zelen (Shakopee, Minn.) continued her historic season by earning MIAC Swimming Athlete of the Week honors after a record-setting showing in a dual meet against Carleton. Zelen captured four event victories and helped set three pool records in the closely contested 154–146 loss.
The honor marked the sixth MIAC weekly award of Zelen’s career, the most by any swimmer in College of Saint Benedict history. During the 2025–26 season alone, she has earned conference recognition six times (Oct. 14, Oct. 21, Nov. 4, Nov. 11, Dec. 9, 2025, and Jan. 27, 2026). Overall, it was the 24th MIAC weekly honor by a CSB swim and dive athlete, and Zelen also collected her fourth The House / St. Cloud Orthopedics CSB Athlete of the Week award.
Zelen set the tone early against Carleton by breaking the pool record in the 100 freestyle with a time of 51.82. She followed with another pool mark in the 100 breaststroke, touching in 1:05.16. The swim was a personal best and now ranks second all-time in CSB history, trailing only Katie Kuhlman’s school record of 1:04.58 set in 2000.
She also anchored the record-setting 200 medley relay, which won in 1:48.35, a time that ranks fifth all-time at CSB. Zelen teamed with junior Mary Morris (St. Cloud, Minn.), Megan Bartels (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), and first-year Anna Schottler (Chanhassen, Minn.). CSB added another relay victory in the 200-freestyle relay as Zelen joined Morris, first-year Lydia Jostock (Delano, Minn.), and Schottler to post a winning time of 1:39.71.
Already this season, Zelen has recorded three NCAA Division III “B” cut times. She owns CSB records in the 50 freestyle (23.07), 100 butterfly (54.72), and 100 freestyle (50.79), while also ranking second all-time in the 100 breaststroke. In addition, she has been part of two relays — the 400-medley relay (3:57.80) and the 400-freestyle relay (3:34.00) — that ranks second all-time in program history.
Season Review
The Bennies’ progress this season is evident in the numbers. Across nearly every event, CSB swimmers and divers have produced top-tier performances, highlighted by multiple school records, NCAA Division III “B” cuts, and all-time program marks.
Zelen has authored one of the most dominant stretches in program history. She earned MIAC Swimmer of the Week honors on Dec. 9 following a record-shattering performance at the Rochester Invite, where she claimed her fifth weekly conference award of the season. During that meet, Zelen broke three individual school records, helped set a relay record, recorded three NCAA “B” cuts, and contributed to seven top 10 performances in CSB history.
At Rochester, she lowered the 50-freestyle record twice in one day, ultimately winning the final in 23.07. She followed by resetting her own 100 butterfly record with a 54.72, then capped the meet by breaking the 100-freestyle record in 50.79. Zelen also teamed with Morris, Bartels, and Schottler to break the school record in the 200-medley relay and helped the 400 freestyle relay post the second-fastest time in program history. CSB finished eighth overall with four school records and nine top 10 marks.
Other Bennies also made their mark at Rochester. Josey Larson (Hastings, Minn.) recorded the sixth-fastest 200 butterfly time in program history at 2:14.27, while senior Morgan Stout (Des Moines, Iowa) swam a career-best 5:18.04 in the 500 freestyle, now 10th all-time at CSB.
Earlier in the season, CSB showcased its depth in a dual against NCAA Division II St. Cloud State, collecting four event wins and 20 top five finishes. Zelen won three individual events and helped the 400-medley relay place second alongside Morris, Larson, and Jayda Alholm (Little Falls, Minn.). The Bennies also captured the 200-freestyle relay with Alholm, Bartels, Jostock, and Ava Niksich (Hermantown, Minn.).
At UW–La Crosse, Zelen earned her fourth MIAC weekly honor after winning three individual events and setting two school records. Morris claimed a victory in the 200 backstroke, while Larson, Bartels, and Stout continued to establish themselves as consistent contributors. CSB finished the meet with four event wins and 18 top four finishes.
CSB also split competition at the St. Catherine/St. Olaf Double Dual, defeating St. Catherine and battling a strong St. Olaf squad. Zelen reset her 100-butterfly record for the fourth consecutive week, Larson earned a top 10 program mark with a win in the 200 butterfly, and the Bennies totaled six event victories. On the boards, Emma Netland delivered steady performances with top six finishes in both diving events.
Momentum first took shape earlier in the season against Macalester, where CSB recorded seven event wins and 18 top three finishes. Zelen broke her own 100 butterfly record for the third straight week, Larson and Schottler earned their first collegiate victories, and the Bennies’ relays continued to show championship-level potential.
Stevens, Kowalczyk shine at St. Cloud Invite
Sophomore Abby Stevens (St. Cloud, Minn.) and junior Ella Kowalczyk (Minneapolis, Minn.) represented the Bennies at the St. Cloud Diving Invite on Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Halenbeck Hall Aquatic Center.
On the one-meter board (11 dives), Stevens posted a career-best score of 313.05 to place 11th. Kowalczyk followed with a strong showing on the three-meter board (11 dives), finishing eighth with a season-best score of 379.65. The mark improved upon her previous season high of 376.26 and was just shy of her career-best score of 379.75.
CSB earns Scholar All-America Team honors
For the 15th consecutive year, the College of Saint Benedict earned College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America Team honors, recognizing academic excellence during the Fall 2025 semester.
Saint Benedict was one of 709 teams from 414 institutions across all collegiate levels to receive the distinction. Programs must post a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher to qualify, and CSB exceeded that benchmark with a 3.56 team GPA. Nationwide, 16,421 student-athletes contributed to Scholar All-America recognition. Presented by Fitter and Faster Swim Camps, the award represents the highest academic honor bestowed by the CSCAA.
Nestled in the heart of beautiful St. Joseph, Minnesota, the College of Saint Benedict (CSB) Swimming program has proudly celebrated over 50 years of competitive excellence. The Bennies have built a tradition rooted in Courage, Strength, and Boldness (CSB) —values that guide them in the pool, the classroom, and throughout our community. What sets CSB Swimming apart is its unique collaboration with Saint John’s University: Bennie swimmers train together on the CSB campus, yet compete alongside the Johnnies, creating a dynamic and supportive environment that’s both competitive and community-driven. Throughout its history, CSB Swimming has produced 12 NCAA Division III All-Americans, a testament to the team’s relentless pursuit of excellence. Equally impressive is the Bennies’ academic success—achieving 18 consecutive years as a CSCAA Scholar All-America Team. This dual commitment to athletics and academics reflects the high-achieving nature of the student-athletes who wear the Bennie cap. With a strong legacy and an even stronger future, Bennies continue to inspire, lead, and push the limits.